Bicycle Mechanics - Suntour barend shifter help please...

So, I've just installed some old Suntour barend shifters on a Nishiki International. Front derailleur is old Shimano 600 "Arabesque" and rear derailleur is Suntour Cyclone Mk.II. Shifting up seems to be very stiff on both levers - i.e. - pulling cable, in the non-ratchet direction. I've tried adjusting the friction on the side of the shifters, but to no avail. If they're too loose, they don't hold their position. If I tighten them up to where they will hold the position, the shifting is too stiff.

Does the type of housing make much of a difference with these shifters? I thought that any housing - i.e. - brake or shifter - could be used for friction shifters. I've used brake housing in the past with Suntour Power Ratchet shifters with no problems, but for some reason or another this setup isn't working too well. I made sure that there were no sharp bends in the routing of the cables.

Also, I used step down ferrules in the cable holes on the shifters. They don't fit absolutely snug in the holes, but they at least provide an end for the housing.

Any ideas folks?

Thanks...

Assuming the shifters didn't feel stiff with they had no cable attached before you installed them, I'd rule them out as being the problem.

My guess is it has something to do with your cable housings or ferrules. The fact that you are having the same problem on both sides leads me to suspect the ferrules. I doubt you'd have identical burrs on both cable housings.

How is your housing routed? Does it come out of the tape at the first bend of the drops, or go all the way up to the top? I've heard this sometimes has an influence on barend shift quality.

The too-small ferrules might be offset from the cable holes in the shifters causing excess friction when cable tension is increased.